I really like this portrait,,,,,but do you?

[NathanO]

Here's the picture. I am doing this for a friend that wants to start a makeup business. She is going for the magazine looks. This is very difficult for me to do because I have budget equipment. So, I'm basically using the highest quality, cheapest equipment I can find.

Comments I'm looking for are: what can I do to get better portraits using cheaper glass/lighting. Any photoshop plugins that can make the picture "Pop" more?

-NathanO



Some basic info:
Canon 50D
Canon 50mm f/1.8
AV:4.5
TV:1/200
ISO:200
Lighting: 45degrees to the side...45 deg above eyes .... triggered using the Cactus V4 wireless trigger using a homemade umbrella stand and 32" reflective umbrella.
Shooting location: At home near a white wall and open window.

[Wishing4]

I'm just a newbie but my thought was that it's too bright on the left side. It's hard to see the "hair" and her arm kind of gets lost.

My two year old daughter says, "Look at her. Pretty."

[BigFuzzy]

The main thing I thought was "it's for a make-up business, and half of her face is blown out so you can't even see the makeup job"

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice photo, but the face, in my humble opinion, shouldn't be blown out in any place if it's a spot for a makeup business.

So, work on that lighting a bit.

I'm not trying to sound harsh, but the budget equipment, for this shot is not the issue, I promise you. Don't start of limiting yourself in your mind by minimizing your kit, I promise you, with what you have you could have gotten what you wanted. Because, in the end, you can't 'pop' blown out.

One key that always helps me when trying to play light off of two things (ie subject and background) is this:
Shutter speed controls ambient light (ie background)
Aperture affect flash.

Good luck!

PS saw your flickr, and "bubble gum" and that's awesome.

[Barbara554]

I agree it is too light on the left side. I am also a "newbie" to portraits/people shots, so if anyone would mind replying with advice on how this could be minimized that would be great!

[MrJones]

Originally Posted by Barbara554

I agree it is too light on the left side. I am also a "newbie" to portraits/people shots, so if anyone would mind replying with advice on how this could be minimized that would be great!

put the lightning further from the object.
use a larger aperture value.
put a reflector on the other side to fill up the shadows.